title: The relationship between scaphocephaly at the skull vault and skull base in sagittal synostosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The skull vault is scaphocephalic in sagittal synostosis but little is known about the deformity at the skull base. If differential progressive deformity occurs between the vault and base, this might affect decision making regarding the timing of surgical intervention. We used 3-dimensional CT (3DCT) scans to compare deformity at the vault, base and posterior fossa in sagittal synostosis. Cephalic index (CI) was measured in 34 consecutive cases of isolated sagittal synostosis and 16 controls using predefined landmarks on the 3DCT volume data set. Planes were generated by a Vitrea™ workstation. Data were analysed by Student's t-test and Pearson coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ratios of CI between the vault and base, and the vault and posterior fossa were significantly reduced in sagittal synostosis (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0031) demonstrating a milder deformity at the base and posterior fossa. However there was strong positive correlation between CI at the vault and base (r = 0.77, p < 0.0001). We have therefore shown for the first time that the deformity at the base is less severe, but is still closely correlated with the vault in unoperated sagittal synostosis. This study provides a basis for future work analysing the progression of these deformities before and after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. Electronic address: charlottebendon@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: Charlotte L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bendon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford UK.
authors.forename: Fintan B J
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Sheerin
authors.affiliation: Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008416:Mastoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010294:Parietal Bone / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
keywords: Craniosynostoses; Skull base; Tomography x-ray computed